Global Privacy Programme & Operations Director

Please Note: The deadline for applying is 23.59 the day before the job posting end date.

Job Title: Global Privacy Programme & Operations Director

Location: 100VE

JOB PURPOSE

Are you a passionate programme leader who loves strategy development, organizational excellence and transformation? Can you build cutting edge process management and operational systems? Are you able to generate new thinking to drive change and results? Do you want a role that will focus on data as a foundation of an ambitious digital transformation agenda whilst demonstrating trusted data use?

Reporting to the Chief Privacy Officer (CPO), and collaborating closely with the Central Privacy advisory team, the GPP Director will contribute to the design, execution, and ongoing enhancement of Unilever’s global, multi-year privacy programme. This pivotal role involves partnering with the CPO and Central Privacy Team to advance the integration of data protection standards and drive operational improvements, consistent with Unilever’s overarching privacy vision, mission and foundational principles relating to privacy and artificial intelligence.

KEY COMPETENCIES

Effecting large-scale change through effective programme leadership

• Support the CPO by providing strategic leadership for the overall programme direction and structure, including potential synergies and areas for evolution.
• Skilled in designing and driving initiatives that simplify existing ways of working and foster ownership, accountability and new habits related to areas of organisational compliance, such as privacy, artificial intelligence and data responsibility.
• Lead and continually look for ways to streamline and improve the programme and adapt to an ever-changing internal and external environment
• Ability to coordinate and monitor large-scale risk governance programme rollouts, ensuring milestones and KPIs are met across complex, global organisations.
• Able to shift perceptions of risk governance from compliance-driven to value-creating through education, storytelling and engagement. Adept at distilling complex frameworks into relatable, human-centred messaging that resonates across different levels and functions.
• Develops practical guides, toolkits and role-specific training to empower teams to embed privacy considerations in their daily work.
• Anticipates resistance, manages ambiguity and adjusts strategies to sustain momentum in complex, evolving environments.

Digital tooling and operationalisation

• Experience supporting the deployment and adoption of digital risk assessment and automation tools, ensuring ease of adoption through clear processes, user support and feedback loops.
• Skilled at building bridges between technical teams, process owners, and business leaders, effectively cutting through organisational complexity and silos.

Programme tracking and data insights

• Proficient in designing and maintaining dashboards for real-time tracking of programme health, adoption and impact metrics.
• Capable of synthesising programme progress, risks and insights into clear, actionable reports for Committees, Boards, and senior leadership.

Stakeholder management and engagement

• Adept at building trust and credibility across senior leadership, functional teams and front-line stakeholders, using empathy to align diverse perspectives.
• Comfortable working in fluid environments, navigating bureaucracy and proactively driving progress in matrixed global structures.
• Support the Privacy Team, country Data Protection Officers, data privacy champions and the business teams in the adoption of privacy processes across the company

Operations

• Oversee all policies, standards and procedures needed across the group to comply with our privacy obligations
• Responsible for the continuous enhancement of the Privacy Risk and Control Framework e.g. NIST for Privacy
• Working with local legal advisers, to support countries’ management teams in achieving the implementation of the Unilever privacy programme
• Direct line management of three privacy specialists
• Accountable for overseeing the effective management of Data Subject Access Requests, Privacy Risk Assessments and ensuring processing records comply with local laws.

ALL ABOUT YOU

We are looking for a special candidate who can demonstrate professionalism, strong interpersonal skills, excellent time management and, in particular, expert programme managements capabilities.

• Established Programme Director – 12+ years experience of managing a privacy (or equivalent programme) within a multi-national global organization including managing complex technical and non-technical projects and cross-functional initiatives.
• Change Manager - Experienced in leading and structuring change management. Proven track record in implementing change management using tools and techniques to drive exceptional and measurable programmatic operational outcomes
•  Strong organizational abilities, skilled at prioritisation and focus of people, time and data with and an ability to analyse and draw conclusions from large amounts of compliance-related data
•  Ability to build relationships proactively and confidently at all levels
•  Pragmatic and adaptable, used to assessing and evaluating risk and navigating organizational change
•  Team player and collaborative- Ability to work collaboratively with Legal and other risk owners (such as Cyber Risk Management) to support compliance initiatives led by those teams
•  Passionate about Privacy (or happy to become so!) - Existing privacy or data protection experience is desirable but not essential in a candidate who can demonstrate transferrable skills and experience in managing and leading an equivalent programme

NOTES

About Unilever

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Home and Personal Care products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2 billion consumers a day. Unilever has more than 400 brands found in homes around the world, including Dove, Tresemme, Lynx, Lifebuoy, Shea Moisture, Persil, Domestos, Ben & Jerry’s, Magnum, Marmite, The Vegetarian Butcher, Graze and Pot Noodle.

Faced with the challenge of climate change and the need for human development, we want to move towards a world where everyone can live well and within the natural limits of the planet. That’s why our purpose is ‘to make sustainable living commonplace’ 

Location

In June 2020 we announced our plan to consolidate a number of Unilever’s offices across the South East of England into a new Unilever campus in Kingston-upon-Thames in or around early 2025. However, on the 08 August 2024 we announced to our existing staff our proposal to retain our central Head Office in London, 100 Victoria Embankment (“100VE”) until our lease expires in 2027. As a result of this new proposal, we will be consulting with our existing staff, and new joiners who join during this period of consultation at 100VE, on the proposal made in August 2024. During consultation we will clarify the future location of each team and function. This means your role will either be based in 100VE until 2027 or in Kingston-Upon-Thames from early 2025. As we are yet to commence consultation on the proposal you agree, until such a time when consultation has concluded, your normal place of work as set out in the enclosed Statement of Terms & Conditions will be 100VE. You agree that on the conclusion of the consultation your place of work will be 100VE or 100VE until early 2025 and then Kingston-upon-Thames ("the locations") and you will be notified of which of the locations will be your place of work after that consultation ends.

What We Offer

Not only do we offer a competitive salary and pension scheme, we also offer an annual bonus, subsidised gym membership, a discounted staff shop and shares. You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands in a flexible and hybrid working environment.

Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We are a key advocate of wellbeing and offer a variety of support for our people including hubs, programmes and development opportunities. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all.

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, including about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Unilever | Unilever.

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How is Unilever tackling this?

Many of Unilever’s recruitment sites publish a warning to candidates about recruitment fraud. The Cyber Security team also proactively scan for signs of people setting up fake Unilever sites and act to close them down.

What can I do?

If you become aware of potential recruitment fraud, spot fake Unilever recruitment adverts or fake LinkedIn profiles, report them via Una Live Chat.

Unilever does not accept responsibility or liability for any candidates who are financially impacted by recruitment fraud. Your vigilance is key!